Motor vehicle headlight control system



R. M. FRANKLIN 2,18748 MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May19, 1938 2 Sheets-Shee l Jan. 16, 1940.

Jan. 16, 1940. R, M FRANKLIN y' MTM@ MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHT CONTROLSYSTEM Filed May 19, 1938 2 :Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. i6, 19

MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Robert M. Franklin, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor of one-third to Eugene C. Pomeroy, Hopewell, N. J., andone-third to Royal C. Johnson,

Washington, D. C.

Application May 19, 1938, Serial No. 208,902

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in motor vehicleheadlight control systems.

The primary object of the invention is to elimi- 5 nate from nightdriving the hazard caused by the use of blinding motor vehicleheadlights and to accomplish this very desirable result by the use ofstandardized equipment to be installed on all vehicles whereby eachmotor vehicle operator will 1U have under his optional control thebright headlights of his own and all vehicles approaching from theopposite direction and which are located within a certain distance ofeach other so that if desired said operator may dim his own and theapproaching vehicle headlights by manipulation of a single controldevice.

A further important object of the invention is to provide as a part ofthe aforementioned equipn ment means for automatically re-establishingthe circuits for the bright headlights of the vehicles which wereaffected by the manipulation of said single control device after thelapse of a predetermined time interval which should be of sumcientduration to enable the affected vehicles to pass each other if they arebeing'operatedin a normal manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a vehicleheadlight control system of the above-mentioned type in which the remotecontrol of the headlights of approaching vehicles is obtained by the useof radio transceivers operating on ultra high frequencies and employingdirectional antennae.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course oi' the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout 40the same,

Figs. la and 1b collectively illustrate diagrammatically the wiringdiagram and the equipment employed for accomplishing the aforementionedcontrol of motor vehicle headlights. and i5 Fig. 2 is a detaildiagrammatic view of a modification of a portion of the transceivercircuit and antenna arrangement of Fig. 1a.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose oi illustration are shown thepreferred embodiments of this invention, there is illustrated in Figs.la and lb, the complete wiring diagram for the headlights of a vehicle,the electric circuits for these headlights, the switch mechanism whichis employed for effecting variations in the circuit connections for theheadlights whereby bright and dim headlights may be provided, the wiringdiagram of a radio transceiver with its directional antenna which isemployed as a part of the control system for the headlights andmechanical and electrical control devices for governingthe 5 operationof the radio transceiver mechanism. As Fig. lb discloses the headlightsand all of the mechanism which controls the operations of theseheadlights, the disclosure of this figure rst will be described indetail. The description then will l@ proceed with an explanation of theinstrumentalities of the radio transceiver device and the manner inwhich this unit is combined with the elements disclosed in Fig. la.

Referring now to Fig. 1b, the reference char- E5 acter 5 designates apair of large motor vehicle headlights, while the reference character 6designates a. pair of small motor vehicle headlights. These two pairs oflights are intended to be representative of the bright and dimheadlights of a motor vehicle. It is appreciated that the socalledbright and dim headlights or the headlights intended to be employedrespectively for country and city driving do not consist of twoindependent pairs of lights in present-day motor vehicles. The headlightequipment of. present-day motor vehicles consists of just two headlightswith either a bright and a dim bulb in each headlight, a single bulb ineach headlight which is lprovided with bright and dim laments, or a 30single lament bulb in each headlight which is caused to produce the twodifferent types of driving lights as a result of focusing the bulb andreflector relative to each other. It is to be understood, therefore,that the two pairs of lights 5 and 35 6 are intended to represent theaforementioned variations in headlight equipment of motor vehicles andthat wherever the expression "bright and dim headlights, or any othersimilar expression is employed in the specification and/or 40 claims,such expression is intended to cover and include the aforementionedmodifications or variations. I

Each of the headlights 5 is provided with a filament 'l which isconnected to circuit wires B. 45 The circuit Wires 8 for both of theheadlight filaments 'l merge into two common wires 9 and l0. The two dimheadlights 6 are each provided with a filament Il which is connected toa pair oi' wires I2. These two pairs oi' wires l2 merge into 50 twocommon wires i3 and I4. A storage battery I5, preferably of the six-volttype, is provided for the purpose of supplying current to the saidheadlights. This battery is provided with wires I6 and il. 55

'I'he conventional headlight equipment of a motor vehicle includes aswitch device which is operable either to turn 01T the headlights, toturn on the bright lights, or to turn on the dim lights. Thisconventional switch device is designated in its entirety in thisdisclosure by means of the reference character I8. This switch I8functions in the manner of a double pole, double throw switch andincludes the movable switch blades |9 and 20 which are connected by amanipulating handle, or the like, 2| for simultaneous operation. Theswitch blade I9 has positioned on opposite sides of the same thestationary contact blades 22 and 23. The movable switch blade 2U hasassociated with opposite sides of the same the stationary contact blades24 and 25. It will be appreciated, therefore, that when the connectordevice 2| is moved to the right, its blades I9 and 20 will contact withthe stationary blades 22 and 24 while movement of the actuating element2| to the left will cause its blades I9 and 20 to contact the stationaryblades 23 and 24.

To permit the conventional headlight equipment of a modern-day motorvehicle to be controlled by the remote control mechanism disclosed inFig. 1a; i. e., the radio transceiver device, Without dispensing withthe desired manual control of the vehicle headlights by means of theusual switch, a second switch device is provided and is designated inits entirety by the reference character 26. This auxiliary switch device26 includes the two movable switch blades 21 and 28 which are connectedfor simultaneous operation by means of the actuating head 29. Themovable blade 21 of this switch 26 has associated with opposite sides ofthe same the two stationary contact blades 3D and 3|. The movable blade28 has associated with opposite sides of the same the two stationarycontact blades 32 and 33. A spring 34 is connected at one end to asuitable fixed support and at its other end to an actuating ringer 35carried by the operating head 29. This spring 34 normally functions toposition the two movable blades 21 and 28 in contact with the stationaryblades 3| and 33. l

Before tracing out the circuits which may be established between thestorage battery I and the two pairs of headlights 5 and 6, it isbelieved battery I5.

to be advisable to explain the intended mode of operation of the twoswitch devices I8 and 26. The switch device I8 is entirely manuallycontrolled. When the actuating element 2| is in the position illustratedin this figure, the bright and dim headlights 5 and 6, respectively, areturned oil'. When the actuating element 2| is moved to the left, the dimlights 6 are to be placed in circuit With the battery I5. When theactuating element 2| is moved to the right, the bright headlights 5 areto be placed in circuit with the The switch device 26 is only capable ofaccomplishing control over the bright and dim headlights 5 and 6,respectively, when the actuating element 2| of the manual switch deviceI8 is shifted to the right or in the position in which it closes thecircuit for the bright headlights 5. For that reason, the secondaryswitch device 26 receives its supply of current through the switchdevice I8. When the actuating element 2| of the switch device I8 ismoved to the left, the dim headlights 6 are energized and no current canflow to the secondary switch device 26. This secondary switch device isnormally conditioned by the spring 34 so that when the actuating element2| of the manual switch I8 is moved to the right, the current suppliedto the bright headlights 5 passes through the normally, electricallyconnected blades 21-3I and 28-33. As the current is supplied by themanual switch device I8 to the movable switch blades 21 and 28 of theswitch device 26, these movable blades may be moved into engagement withthe xed contacts 30 and 32 for switching the current supply to the dimheadlights 6 from the bright headlights 5. When the actuating head 29 ofthe switch device 26 is returned to its normal position, the currentflows to the headlights 5 again and the dim headlights 6 are then turnedoil. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the manual switch device I8may be actuated to turn on either the bright or the dim headlights andthat when the bright headlights are turned on by the switch I8, thesecondary switch 26 may be actuated to turn off the bright headlightsand turn on the dim lights.

With this explanation, we will proceed with a description of the wiringcircuits per se. It will be noted that the wires I6 and l1 which areconnected to the storage battery I5 extend to and are connected with themounted ends of the two movable switch blades I9 and 20 o! the manualswitch device I8. Stationary switch blade 23 of the switch device I8 isdirectly connected with the common wire I4 for the dim headlights 6. Thestationary contact 23 of the switch device I8 is directly connected withthe common wire I3 for the two dim headlights 6. Therefore, when the twomovable blades I9 and 2|! are moved to the left, current Will flow fromthe battery through the wires I6 and I1, between the switch blades I9and 23 as well as between the switch blades 20 and 25 and through thewires I3 and I4 to the dim headlight laments II by Way of the branchwires I2. Wire 36 extends from the common dim light Wire I4 to themounted end of the stationary blade 30 of the secondary switch device26. The branch wire 31 extends from the common dim headlight wire I3 tothe stationary contact blade 32 of the secondary switch device 26. Thesetwo branch wires 36 and 31, therefore, place the fixed contact blades 30and 32 of the switch device 26 in parallel relation with respect to thefixed contact devices 23 and 25 of the manual switch I8.

The stationary contact blade 22 of switch device I8 is connected by awire 38 with the movable blade 28 of the secondary switch device 26. Thestationary switch blade 24 of switch device I8 is connected by a wire 39with the movable switch blade 21 of the secondary switch device 26. Itwill be seen, therefore, that when the movable blades I9 and 20 of themanual switch device I8 are moved into contact with the stationaryblades 22 and 24, the battery supply wires I6 and I1 will be connectedwith the movable switch blades 21 and 28 of the secondary switch device26. The common circuit wires 9 and III for the filament 1 of the brightheadlights 5 are directly connected to the mounted ends of thestationary contact blades 3| and 33 of the secondary switch device 26.Therefore, when current is supplied to the movable contact blades 21 and28 through the wires 38 and 39, the bright headlights 5 will beenergized unless the operating head 26 is moved out of its normalposition. With battery current supplied to the movable blades 21 and 28of the secondary switch device 26, these blades may be moved to theright into contact with the stationary blades 3|] and 32 for breakingthe circuit to the bright headlight la- 'ments and for establishingcurrent iiow through the filamentsA I| of the dim headlights 6.

There now will be developed the mechanism employed for actuating thesecondary switch 26 in a manner to accomplish the objects oftheinvention. The actuating nger of the head 29 is located in the path ofmovementof the abutment of the rod 4| which is mounted for trulyrectilinear movement by means of the bearing 42 and the stufiing box 43of the stationary cylinder 44. It is intended that this reciprocatingrod 4| be capable of partaking of rapid movement to the right and slowor delayed movement to the left. The mechanism employed for eecting therapid movement to the right will be described at a later point. The slowor retarded movement to the left occurs automatically in sequence to amovement to the right. To bring about this retarded movement to theleft, the rod 4| has mounted on its left-hand end a piston which ispositioned within the cylinder 44. A spring 46 loads the piston 45 for Ymovement to the left through the bore of the cylinder 44. When'the rod4| and its piston 45 are moved to the right, the spring loaded inletvalve 41 permits air to rapidly enter the cylinder 44 behind the piston45. Whenthe' power employed for moving the rod 4| to the right has beenstopped or shut off, the spring 46 functions to move the piston 45 tothe left. The air drawn into the cylinder in back of the piston isforced to leave the cylinder through the air vent or bleeder hole 48which is controlled by means of the needle valve 49. Adjustment of thisneedle valve, therefore,` will regulate the rate of movement of thepiston 45 to the left in the cylinder 44. This piston, cylinder andvalve arrangement, therefore, acts .as a dashpot or delay mechanism forthe reciprocating rod 4|. I

Two devices are provided for supplying the power required to move thereciprocating rod 4| to the right. It will be appreciated that when thisrod does move to the right, its abutment 4U will engage the actuatingnger 35 of the head 29 employed for operating the secondary switch 26 sothat right-hand movement of the said reciprocating rod will actuate theswitch blades 2l and 28 to separate them from the contacts 3| and 32which control the circuit for the bright headlights 5 and to move theseblades 21 and 28 into engagement with the stationary blades 30 and 32for closing the circuit to the filaments of the dim headlights 6.

One source of power for moving the reciproeating rod 4| to the rightconsists of a relay which is designated in its entirety by the referencecharacter 50. This relay includes an armature arm 5| which is pivoted at52 to any suitable xed support and is connected to the outer end of thereciprocating rod 4| by means of the link 53. The armature 5| is movedin a clockwise direction around its pivot 52 by energization of theelectro-magnet 54. The two leads or terminals of this magnet areconnected to the wires 55 and 56. The wire 55 extends to the sectionline A-B which denotes the line on which Figs. 1a and lb are joined. Atthis section line A-B, the wire 55 is designated by the referencecharacter C. The remaining electromagnet wire 56 extends to and isconnected with the previously referred to wire 39 at the point 51. Itwill be remembered that this wire 39 acts as one of 'the current supplywires for the secondary switch 26 when the actuating element 2| of themanual switch I8 is moved to the right 61 formed on the rod 4|.

' ing position.

to establish the circuit for the bright headlights 5. The remainingsupply wire 38, extending between the two switch devices |8 and 26, hasconnected to the same, as at 58, the wire D which extends to the sectionline A--B referred to above. It will be seen, therefore, that when theactuating element 2| of the manual switch I8 is moved to the right toturn on the bright headlights 5, through the medium of the secondaryswitch 26, the wires 55-C and 56-D are placed in circuit with currentsupply lines 38 and 39. However, current will not flow through theelectro-magnet 54 because of the gap or break between the wires C and D.The bridging of these two last-mentioned wires is necessary to effectenergization of this electro-magnet 54. It will be explained whiledescribing the radio transceiver disclosed in Fig. 1a, that the bridgingof these wires C and D will be accomplished as a result of the receptionof a radio impulse by the transceiver. Therefore, when a radio impulseis received by the transceiver, the electro-magnet 54 will be energizedand will attract its armature 5|. Movement of the armature will pull therod 4| to the right and will bring about movement of the operating head29 for the secondary switch 26 to break the current supply to thefilaments 1 of the bright'headlights 5 and to make or close the circuitto the laments of the dim headlights 6. When reception of the radioimpulse ceases, the circuit to the electro-magnet 54 will be broken andthis magnet will be de-energized. The spring 46, bearing against thepiston 45. then will function to move the said piston and the rod 4| tothe left at the rate of movement permitted by the discharge of airthrough the vent or bleed opening 48. This slow return movement of therod 4| will delay the return movement of the operating head 29 for thesecondary switch 26 and will maintain the dim headlights 6 energizedduring the period of delay. When the rod 4| finally returns to itsnormal position, the circuit to the dim headlights will be broken andthe circuit to the bright headlights will be reestablished. Thereception of a radio impulse by the transceiver, therefore,automatically eiects a change from the bright headlights to the dimheadlights and, after the elapse of a definite time t interval, there-eergization of the bright headlights and a discontinuation of the dhnheadlights.

The second means employed for moving the rod 4| to the right consists ofa manually operable level or key 59 which is pivoted at 60 and isconnected by a link 6| to one branch or arm of a bell crank lever 62pivoted at 63. The remaining branch or arm of this bell crank lever isconnected by a link 64 to a slide 65 which is provided with an abutment66 adapted to engage a iinger By depressing the free end of the lever orkey 59, the link and lever mechanism and the slide 65 will accomplishmovement of the rod 4| to the right. When the lever or key 59 isreleased, a spring 68 will function to return this mechanism toitsnormal start- It will be better understood after the description of Fig.1a is presented, that the radio transceiver normally is conditioned toreceive an impulse transmitted by a transceiver located on another motorvehicle which is located in a proper relation with respect to thetransceiver of the instant vehicle. Therefore, when the brightheadlights of the instant vehicle are energized, the operator of anothervehicle equipped with the device embodying this invention may send out aradio impulse which will cause energization of the magnet on the rstmentioned vehicle for automatically changing from the bright to the dimheadlights of that vehicle.

Let us now assume that the operator of the vehicle equipped with theparticular apparatus disclosed in the drawings is desirous cftransmitting a radio impulse'which will dim the headlights of vehiclesapproaching from the opposite direction. The said operator, also, shoulddim his own headlights. It has been explained how actuation of the leveror key 58 will dim the headlights ofthe vehicle provided with theactuated key or lever.

Three switch .devices are provided and are actuated by the slide 65 foreffecting proper control over the transceiver. One of these switches isdesignated by the reference character 69 and includes a movable switchblade 10 which is connected to the slide 65 at its free end. Thismovable blade 10 normally contacts the stationary n ""'switch blade 1|,but is movable into enggem-lt with the stationary blade l2. The normalposition ofthe switch blade 10, therefore, electrically connects the twowires K and M which extend to the aforementioned section line A and B.When the switch blade 'l0 is moved to the right, as a result ofactuation of the lever or key 58, an electrical connection is madebetween the blade 10 and the contact blade 12. This electricalconnection closes the normally open ygap between the wire M and the wireP which extends to a ground 13 through a 10,000 ohm resistance 14.

The second switch, designated by the reference character 15. has amovable contact blade T6 which is connected at its free end to the slide65 and which normally contacts with a stationary switch blade 11.Movement of the switch blade 'I6 to the right places it in electricalContact with a second stationary blade 18. When the movable switch blade16 is in its normal position, engagement of the blades 78 and 'VIresults in electrically connecting the wires F and G which extend to thesection line A and B. When the switch blade '|6 is moved to the rightinto engagement with the stationary blade 18, the gap is closed betweenwires F and H which extend to the section line A and B.

The third switch, designated in its entirety by the reference character19, includes a movable blade 80 and a xed blade 8l. These two bladesnormally are out of contact with each other. The free end of the movableblade 80 is provided with a head 82 which is to be engaged by anadjustable screw 83 carried by the extension 84 of the slide B5. It willbe noted that the mounted end ef the switch blade 80 is connected to thewire E which extends to the section line A-B. The xed or stationaryswitch blade 8| is connected to a ground 85 by the wire 86. This groundalso is connected to the blade 'l1 of the switch l5 by the wire 81 whichhas interposed therein a fixed condenser 88 which has a capacity of .004mfd.

The switches 69 and 'I5 with their-blades l0-1| and I6-'I1 normally incontact with each other, function to condition the transceiver as areceiver in readiness to pick up a radio impulse which will actuate theelectro-magnet 58. When the lever or key l59 is depressed, the blades'l0 and 16 of the switches 69 and 15, respectively, are moved to theright into engagement with the blades 'l2 and 18, respectively. Thesenew positions of the blades l0 and 'i6 close new circuits aisance forthe transceiver and result in conditioning the same as a transmitter.With the transceiver thus conditioned as a transmitter, movement of theblade 80 into contact with the blade 8| results in actuation of thetransceiver to send out a radioy impulse or signal.

yThe storage battery I5 is not only to be used as the source of currentsupply for the headlights 5 and 8, butis also to act as the A batteryfor the transceiver. The wires N and O, therefore, extend from thesection line A-B up to the switch device I8 where the wire N isconnected to the wire 38 while the wire O is connected to the ofconvenient form for ultra high frequencies oi the order of 56 megacyclesand higher and consists of two half wave loops |06 and |0l7 coupled tothe plate coil H0 of the transceiver by means of a 600 ohm transmissionline formed by the feeders |08 and |09, and the condensers Hi and H2,each of which have a capacity of .002 mfd.

For a 56 megacycle transceiver, the half wave loops |06 and |01 of thedirectional antenna |05 are each approximately 8 feet in length and arespaced approximately 5 i.; hes apart. The two ends of each half waveloop are brought within approximately one inch of each other. Formaximum directional control of signals, the feeders |08 and |09 areconnected at alternate ends of the half wave loops |03 and |07 in orderthat the two loops will be out of phase with each other.

A loop antenna such as that described for operation on 56 megacycleswill approximate 30 inches in diameter. Its location upon a motorvehicle preferably should be such that the transmitted signal isdirected toward the oncoming .vehicle without interference by any partof the vehicle upon which it is mounted.

The transceiver portion of the headlight control device is primarily ofthree integral parts; namely, the oscillator, the ampliler, and thepower supply.

The oscillator consists of a #GES vacuum tube H3, an oscillator tankcoil H0, an oscillator grid coil H0, enclosed within the tank coil, anda variable 15 mfd. tuning condenser H5. The plate coil H0 is made of twoturns of 5%" copper tubing. The grid coil Hit is a length of wellinsulated #18 copper wire drawn through the copper tubing that forms theplate coil. This grid coil H5 is tapped at the exact center and the wireM is brought out through a hole in the center of the tubing.

The amplifier portion of the transceiver consists of a #4l vacuum tubeH6. a coupling transformer H1, which may bc a three-to-one ratio audiotransformer, a relay coil H8- e relay armature H9, a grid leakresistance |20. preferably of 500 ohms and 5 watts, a grid leakcondenser |2| of 5 mid., a radio frequency choke |22 of mh., and a400,000 ohm one-half watt resistance |23. The power supply is preferablyof the full wave synchronous type and consists of arenoso a vibratorpower unit |28 enclosed within a shielding can |25 which is connectedthrough lines |6| and |52 to the opposite ends of primary coil |26a, andthrough lines |63 and |66 to the opposite ends of secondary coil |26b.Coils |26a and |2617 make up power transformer l and are center tappedat points |65 and |66 respectively, by wires |61 and |58. ponents of thepower supply consist of two .01 mid. condensers |21 and |28, two 2 mh.radio frequency chokes |29 and |34, a 15 henry choke |36, a 4 mfd.filter condenser |3| and an 8 mid. lter condenser |82.

The integral parts of the transceiver having been identied, itsoperation will next be described.

When the switch 2| has been thrown to the right, thus establishingcontact between the blades i9 and 20 with the-blades 22 and 24, thewires N and O are energized from the battery I5.

VThis .energy is carried by-the wires N and O to the vibrator powerunitl |24 of the power supply by means of the branch wires |35 and |36.By means of the vibrator power unit |26, the power transformer |26, andthe iilter supply, represented by the components numbered |28 to |32,this current is thereby converted to a B supply of the order of 135volts. Thus, the terminals |31 and |38 represent the B plus and B minusoutlets, respectively, of the power supply unit. The B minus outlet isgrounded at |6, while the B plus connection is made with B plus terminal|sof the transceiver through line It.

In addition to supplying A voltage for the power supply, lines N and Oadditionally furnish the filament current for the tubes ||3 and H6.

As has been pointed out, when the switch 2| is thrown to the right, thenormal position of the switches 69 and 15 maintain the transceiver in areceiving condition. 'I'his is accomplished by switch blade 10,contacting switch blade 1| thus connecting the Wires K and M, and switchblade 16 contacting switch blade 11 thus connecting the wires F and G.

From Fig. la, it will be seen that in the normal receive position; i.e., with wires K and M connected through switch 69, the grid coil Il@ ofthe'oscillator is' connected through lines M and K and through theresistance |23 to the B plus terminal |45. It will also be seen that inthe'receive position, lines F and G are connected through switch thuspermitting the plate current for the oscillator tube ||3 to now throughthe primary of transformer ||1. When switches 69 and 15 are thrown tothe transmit positions, the grid coil He of the oscillator is connectedto ground 13 through line M, switch E@ and through resistance 14, Whilethe plate coil lili of the oscillator is directly connected to the Bplus supply terminal |65, lines F and H, and switch 15. The grid coil isicy-passed to ground by means of a .0il05 mid. condenser |33 connectedto line M by wire m2 and connected to ground |60 by wire isi.

From B plus terminal |31, the power supply current iiows by means ofline l to the terminal les. From this terminal, B plus current reachesthe screen grid of tube HS through line |45. Additionally, B pluscurrent flows to the pla coil HE of the oscillator, from terminal M5 bymeans of lines G or H (depending upon whether switch 15 is in thereceive or transmit position), switch 'l5 and line F.

With the transceiver in its normal receiving position, a signal ispicked up by means of the Other comdirectional antenna ist. conducted tothe plate coil H0 of the oscillator circuit by means of the feeders N3and |09, inductively coupled to the grid coil lili ci the oscillatorcircuit, dotes-ed by the oscillator tube H, conveyed from the plates oi'that tube through plate coil il@ anni wire F to switch blade it oiswitch l5; thence to switch blade 11 and through line G- primary of thetransformer ii'i and to 23 plus terminal it. The signal passing throughthe primary lila of transformer lil is sichert up by the secondary coillith of that tra former and impressed upon the grid oi the ainplier tubeH6. This induces a new ci current through line |43 from the plate of theamplifier tube ||6 and through the windingo the relay coil H8 to the Bplus terminal |65. The flow of current through the relay coil windingiid draws the relay armature |i9 to actuate switch blades |39 forbridging wires C and D, thus setting into operation the relay 50 which,through the rod 4| and switch 26, opens the circuits the bright lightsand closes the circuits to the dini lights, as hereinabove described.lAccordingly, the reception of aradio impulse has been utilized to eiectthe switching of car lights irom bright to dim, which is one of theobjects oi this invention.

tra

When the operator of the vehicle desires to dim his own lights and thoseof an approaching car, he may do so by pressing the lse'y d. .in

addition to thereby switching his lights i'rom bright to dim by means ofthe switch 25, he places the transceiver in a transmitting condition byestablishing contact between switch blades 1li-12, and 16-18. Switch t3thereby breaks the connection between lines M and K and serves todirectly connect the grid coil lili oi the oscillator with ground 13through switch blades 'ie-l2 and resistance 1e. By the shiftingofswitch. 15 to transmit position, the plate coil lill of the oscillatoris directly connected to the B plus supply terminal It through line F,switch blades 1E--18, and line H. In addition, the pressing o the key 59establishes a contact between switch blades 80 and 8| of switch 19,thereby connecting the cathode of the oscillator tube H3 through line Fwith ground connection 85. Since the B minus outlet |38 of the powersupply unit is grounded, this places the oscillator tube H3 intooscillation, thus generating a signal which is conducted from the platesof the oscillator tube H3 to the directional antenna |05 by means of theoscillator plate coil |||l, the antenna condensers lli and. H2, and theantenna feeders lil@ and |09. A signal is thus generated and transmittedto the approaching vehicle at the same time that the oper`1 ator of theirst vehicle dims his own lights. This results in the dimming of thelights of the oncoming vehicle, inthe manner above described, upon thereception of a radio impulse, r

Fig. 2 is illustrative of an oscillator tube and antenna system whichmay be employed in lieu oi these components in Fig. la. This modihcationis particularly adapted ior operation upon the higher ultra highfrequencies such as 3G53 megacycles and higher. found most effectiveupon 400 megacycles, or three-fourths of a meter.

It consists of the oscillator tube 253, which is preferably a #955 acorntype radio tube, a. parellel wire LC circuit ZES, an antenna feeder 2te,and an antenna 2|l5. At meters, the length oi each of the parallel Wires2|!) and 2 I, of the LCcircult, is approximately one inch and they eachconsist This circuit has been and grid leads, respectively, of the tube.'I'he nature of the tube employed inherently furnishes the remainder ofthe capacity necessary for operation on 400 megacycles.

The antenna 205 is coupled to the parallel wire LC circuit 206 by theantenna feeder 2098 which ls connected to some point along the wire 2ifi.

In order to give a directional eiect to the signal radiated from theantenna 205, a reflector 2H and director 2|2 may be positioned about theantenna 205 in the following manner: The antenna array best suitable foroperation on threequarters meter or 400 megacycles has been found toconsist of an antenna wire or rod 205 which is approximately 13% inchesin length behind which, at a distance of approximately '7v inches, thereis placed the reflector wire or rod 2|| of 141A, inches in length, andin front of which there is placed one or more director wires or rods 2|2of 13 inches in length. 'Ihe rst director 2|2 is properly positionedabout 101/2 inches forward of the antenna 205 while one or moreadditional directors 2|2 may be positioned each lOl/2 inches forward ofthe last director. By the use of directors and reflectors, there isobtained a maximum control of the direction of signal thereby eifectinga concentration of the signal in the direction of the oncoming vehicleand avoiding the operation of similar equipment upon vehiclesapproaching from other directions, the lights of which do not interfereand accordingly need not be dimmed.

The connections of the oscillator tube 2|3 of Fig. 2 with the remainderof the transceiver circuit follows in general the connections of theoscillator tube H3 of Fig. la. 'Ihe filament supply is furnished fromthe A battery l5 by lines N' and O corresponding with lines N and O ofFig. 1a.

The cathode of the oscillator tube 2|3 is connected to switch point 80of switch 'i9 by line E and thus to ground 85, corresponding to line Eof Fig. la, when switch i9 is placed in the transmit position. The gridof the oscillator tube 2|3 is connected to the grid side of condenser2|5 through wire 2M and is additionally connected to switch blade 'I0 ofswitch 69 by means of line M', corresponding to line M of Fig. la.CondenserZ I 5 is a .001 mfd. condenser. Thus when switch 69 is in itsnormal receive positon, the grid of the oscillator 2|3 is connectedthrough line M', switch blades 'l0 and 1|, line K and resistance |23with the B plus terminal |45. When switch 69 is in the transmitposition, the grid of the oscillator 2|3 is connected to the B minus orground 'I3 by means of line M, switch blades 'l0 and l2, and resistance14.

The plate of the oscillator 2|3 is connected with the plate side of thecondenser 2| 5 and is additionally connected by means of line F withblade of the switch 15. When this switch is in the transmit position;that is, with contact between switch blades 76 and 18, B plus currentflows directly from the B plus terminal |65 through line H, through theswitch i5 and by line F' to the plate of the oscillator 2 i3. Whenswitch 75 is in a receive position, B plus current ows from terminal |45through the primary coil of transformer thence through line G, radiofrequencychoke |22, switch contact points i'l and '16, to line F' and tothe plate of the oscillator tube 2i3.

Although there have been shown several modications of antenna arrays andoscillator circuits,

of a No. 14 bare copper wire soldered to the plate it should beunderstood that these are illustrative only of the many modificationsthat might be employed to operate the headlight contr'ol device. It maynot be necessary to utilize reflectors or directors if some suitablemeans is employed to dampen or shield the signal to the rear of theantenna and permit a clear radiating field forward, since the range ofsignal need not be concentrated providing it is of sulcient strength tooperate the control device on an oncoming vehicle when that vehicle iswithin the distance where its lights are blinding to the operator of thefirst oncoming vehicle. Accordingly, a properly grounded shield soarranged as to dampen the radiation of signals in al1 directions exceptthe forward direction might be found entirely satisfactory in place ofthe directive arrays shown in Figs. 1a and 2. I

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the invention andthat various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a motor vehicle headlight control system of the type described,the combination with headlight apparatus on approaching vehicles whichare operable to produce bright and dim light conditions and whichinclude electrical circuits for establishing said different conditions,of mechanism on each vehicle including switching means for controllingsaid circuits, a device for transmitting and receiving, underdirectional control, energy impulses of a given wave length and which isnormally conditioned as a receiver, manual means operable to actuatesaid switching means to dim the headlights and simultaneously convert;the said device to a transmitter and transmit an energy impulse, meansoperable in response to the reception of an energy impulse by saiddevice for actuating said switching means to dim the headlights, andmeans for effecting a delayed actuation of said switching means tore-establish the bright lights after dimming of the same as a result ofoperation of either the manual means or the impulse operating means,whereby the manipulation of the manual means on one vehicle will resultin dimming of the headlights of that vehicle and of the vehiclesapproaching from the opposite direction and located within the range ofthe transmitting device for said first vehicle.

2. In a motor Vehicle headlight control system of the type described,the combination with the bright and dim headlights of approachingvehicles and electric circuits on each vehicle for said bright and dimlights including a source of electricity and a manual headlight controlswitch, of a second switch on each vehicle connected in the lightcircuits and operable, when the manual headlight switch is set toenergize the bright headlights, to control said circuits to energizeeither the bright or dim headlights, operating means for said secondswitch, means operatively connected to said second switch operatingmeans for permitting rapid movement of said operating means in thedirection to effect dimming of the headlights and for prolonging thereturnmovement which reestablishes the bright headlights, manuallyoperable means for actuating said second switch operating means to moveit in its direction of rapid movement, a device on each vehicle fortransmitting and receiving, under directional control, en-

(ifi

ergy impulses of a given wave length, means on each vehicle actuated bythe manually operable means to cause its said device to transmit anenergy impulse, and means on each vehicle for actuating said secondswitch operating means in its direction of rapid movement in response toreception by its said device of an energy impulse transmitted by thedevice of an approachingvehicle, whereby the manipulation of themanually operable means on one vehicle will result in dimming of theheadlights of that vehicle and the headlights oi the vehiclesapproaching from the opposite direction and located within the range ofthe transmitting device for said first vehicle.

3. In a motor vehicle headlight controlpsystem of the type described,the combination with headlight apparatus on approaching vehicles whichare operable to produce bright and dim lighting conditions and whichinclude electrical circuits for establishing said different conditions,of mechanism on each vehicle including switching means for controllingsaid circuits, a radio transceiver operable on an ultra high frequencywave length and including a directional antenna, said transceiver beingnormally conditioned to receive signals, manual means operable toactuate said switching means to dim the headlights and simultaneouslyactuate the transceiver to transmit a radio impulse, means operable inresponse to the reception of an energy impulse by said transceiver foractuating said switching means to dim `the headlights, and means foreffecting a delayed actuation of said switching means to re-establishthe bright lights after dimming of the same as a result'of operation ofeither the manual means or the impulse operated means, whereby themanipulation of the manual means on one vehicle will result in dimmingof the headlights of that vehicle and of the vehicles approaching fromthe opposite direction and located within the range of the transmittingdevice for said first vehicle.

4. In a motor vehicle headlight control system of the type described,the combination with the bright and dim headlights of approachingvehicles and electric circuitsy on eachl vehicle for said lightsincluding a source of electricity and a manual headlight control switch,of a second switch on each vehicle connected in the light circuits andoperable, when the manual headlight control switch is set to energizethe bright headlights, to control said circuits to energize either thebright or dim headlights, operating means for said second switch, meansoperatively connected to said second switch operating means forpermitting rapid movement of said operating means in the direction toeiect dimming of the headlights and for prolonging the return movementwhich reestablishes the bright headlights, manually operable means foractuating said second switch operating means to move it in its directionof rapid movement, a radio transceiver on each vehicle operable on anultra 4high frequency Wave length and including a directional antenna,means on each vehicle actuated by the manually/operable means to causesaid transceiver to transmit a radioimpulse, means on eachvehicleactuated by the manually operable means to cause itstransceiverto transmit a radio impulse, and means on each vehicle for actuatingsaid second switch operating means in its direction'of rapid movement inresponse to reception by/ its transceiver of an impulse transmitted bythe device of an approaching vehicle, whereby the manipulation of themanually operable rneans on one vehicle will result in dimming of theheadlights of that vehicle and the headlights of the vehiclesapproaching from the opposite direction and located Within the range ofthe transmitting device for said rst vehicle.

5. In a motor vehicle headlight control system of the type described,the combination with headlight apparatus on approaching vehicles whichvare operable to produce bright and dim lighting conditions and whichinclude electrical circuits for establishing said different conditions,of mechanism on each vehicle including switching means for controllingsaid circuits, a radio transceiver means to dim the headlights andsimultaneously actuate the switch device of the transceiver to effectsending of said impulse, means operable in response to the reception ofa radio impulse by said transceiver for actuating the headlightswitching means to dim the lights, and means ior effecting a delayedactuation of said headlight switching means to re-establish the brightlights after dimming of the same, whereby the manipulation of the manualmeans on one vehicle will result in dimming of the headlights of thatvehicle and of the vehicles approaching from the opposite direction andlocated within the range of the transmitting device for said firstvehicle.

6. In a motor vehicle headlight control system of the type described,the combination with headlight apparatus on approaching vehicles whichare operable to produce bright and dim lighting conditions and whichinclude electrical circuits for establishing said different conditions,ofl

mechanism on each vehicle including switching means for controlling saidcircuits, a radio transceiver operable on an ultra high frequency Wavelength and including a directional antenna, a switchldevice normallyoperating to condition said transceiver as a receiver but being operableto condition the same as a transmitter and to simultaneously send out aradio impulse, manual means operable to actuate the headlight switchingmeans to dim the headlights and simultaneously actuate the switch deviceof the transceiver to eiiect sending of said impulse, a relay energizedby the reception of a radio impulse by said transceiver, means actuatedby the relay when energized to operate the headlight switching means todim the lights, and means for eiecting a delayed actuation oi saidheadlight switching means to lre-l establish the bright lights afterdimming of the same, whereby the manipulation of the manual means on onevehicle will result in dimming of the lights of that vehicle and of thevehicles approaching from the opposite direction and located within therange of the transmitting device for said iirst vehicle.

7. In a motor vehicle headlight control system of the type described,the combination with headlight apparatus on approaching vehicles whichare operable to produce bright and dim lighting conditions and whichinclude electrical circuits for establishing said different conditions,of mechanism on each vehicle including switching means for controllingsaid circuits, a radio transceiver operable on an ultra high frequencyWave length and including a directional antenna, a switch devicenormally operating to condition said transceiver as a receiver but beingoperable to 75 condition the same as a transmitterl and tosimultaneously send out a radio impulse, manual means operable toactuate the headlight switching means to dim the headlights andsimultaneously actuate the switch device of the transceiver to effectsending of said impulse, means operable in response to the reception ofa radio impulse by said transceiver for actuating the headlightswitching means to dim the lights, means for automatically actuatingsaid headlight switching means to re-establish the bright lights afterdimming of the same, and control means for delaying the operation ofsaid automatic means to prevent immediate re-establishment of said,bright headlights, whereby the manipulation of vthe manual means on one.vehicle will result in dimming of the headlights of that vehicle Aandof the vehicles approaching from the opposite direction and locatedwithin the range of the transmitting device for said first vehicle.

8. In a motor vehicle headlight control system of the type described,the combination with headlight apparatus on approaching vehicleswhich'arev operable to produce bright and dim lighting conditions andwhich include electrical circuits for establishing said differentconditions, of mechanism on each vehicle including switching means forcontrolling said circuits, a radio transceiver operable on an ultra-highfrequency Ywave length and including a directional antenna, a switchdevice normally operating to condition said transceiver as a' receiverbut being operable to condition the same as a transmitter and tosimultaneously send out a radio impulse, manual means operable toactuate the headlight switching means to dim the headlights andsimultaneously actuate the switch device of the transceiver to effectsending of said impulse, means operable in response to the reception ofa radio impulse by said transceiver for actuating the headlightswitching means to dim the lights, means for automaticallyactuating saidheadlight switching means to re-establish the bright lights afterdimming of the same, and a dashpot device for delaying the operation ofsaid actuating means to prevent immediate re-establishment of saidbright headlights, whereby the manipulation of the manual means on onevehicle will result in dimming of the headlights o! that of thetransmitting device for said first vehicle.

9. In a motor vehicle headlight control system of the type described,the combination with a y vehicle headlight apparatus which is operableto produce bright and dim lighting conditions and which includesIelectrical circuits for establishing said different conditions, ofmechanism including switching means for controlling said circuits, adevice for transmitting and receiving, under directional control, energyimpulses of a given wave length and which is normally conditioned as areceiver, manual means operable to actuate said switching means to dimthe headlights and simultaneously convert the said device to atransmitter and transmit an energy impulse, means operable in responseto the reception of an energy impulse by said device for actuating saidswitching means to dim the headlights, and means for effecting a delayedactuation of said switching means to re-establish the bright lightsafter dimming of the same as a result of operation of either the manualmeans or the impulse operated means.

l0. In a motor vehicle headlight control system of the type described,the combination with the vehicle headlights which are operable toproduce bright and dim lighting conditions and which includes electricalcircuits for establishing said different conditions, of mechanismincluding switching means for controlling said circuits, a radiotransceiver operable on an ultra high frequency wave length andincluding a directional antenna, said transceiver being normallyconditioned to receive signals, manual means operable to actuate saidswitching means to dim the headlights and simultaneously actuate thetransceiver to transmit a radio impulse, means operable in response tothereception of an energy impulse by said transceiver for actuating saidswitching means to dim the headlights, and means for effecting a.delayed actuation of said switching means to re-establish the brightlights after dimming of the same as a result of operation of either themanual means or the impulse operated means.

' ROBERT M.

